Arjun stared at his screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, frustrated.
MoonInk:Seriously, that plot twist makes no sense. Your character wouldn't do that.
IronQuill:Yes, she would! You just don't understand his motivation!
He scrolled up, rereading her messages. She was fast—so fast he could barely keep up. Every point she made seemed layered, clever, and sharp, and Arjun knew he had good counterarguments… but typing them out fast enough to match her pace? Impossible.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. There's only one solution…
Call her.
He hesitated. Last time, their voice chat had been a one-time thing for the cooking disaster. But this… this was different. This was about the story. Artistic integrity, strategy, moral dilemmas—important things. Surely a call for that was acceptable.
IronQuill:Fine. I'll call. Only to argue about the story.
The phone buzzed almost instantly, and her voice came through, calm and amused:
"Arjun?"
"Don't 'Arjun' me," he said, leaning back, trying to make his voice sound firmer than he felt. "We need to settle this."
"About the twist?" she asked, a hint of laughter in her tone.
"Exactly! You're missing the point. He's not reckless—he's strategic."
"Strategic? He literally runs into a burning building for no reason!"
"For a reason! A moral reason!"
They went back and forth like that, a volley of arguments, laughter, and mock exasperation. Her voice was sharp, teasing, playful; his was earnest, occasionally frustrated, but determined.
Arjun realized something funny: the arguments that would have taken ten long text messages could now be explained in a single sentence. He could hear her reactions instantly. When she rolled her eyes or laughed, he could tell exactly how she felt—something text could never capture.
"And another thing," she said, softer now, almost seriously, "your character wouldn't trust that villain so easily. There's a history there!"
Arjun paused, realizing she was right. Maybe I rushed it.
"Okay… fair point," he admitted. "But my point still stands—his decision wasn't reckless. He's thinking about others, even if it seems impulsive."
They argued and laughed for what felt like hours. Arjun felt more alive than he had in days, their debate energizing him in a way writing alone never could. Every counterargument, every playful jab, made him feel closer to her. He didn't want this call to end.
Finally, they both sighed, a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
IronQuill:Okay… truce? For now.
MoonInk:Truce. But don't think you've won.
Arjun grinned, shutting his laptop. He didn't care about "winning" the argument. What mattered was this: hearing her voice, seeing her passion through it, and realizing that even in conflict, their connection had deepened.
For the first time, he understood that their bond wasn't just about stories, plots, or characters. It was about the way they challenged each other, pushed each other, and respected each other's thoughts. Even arguments could bring them closer.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this was only the beginning.